Alternative communications for an air vehicle
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An unmanned air vehicle comprising:
- a transponder to transmit a transponder code indicative of a communications failure on the unmanned air vehicle;
a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to;
receive, after the transponder code has been transmitted, a first message and a second message, the first message including satellite status information and the second message including an air vehicle command, the first message sent separately from the second message;
distinguish the first message from the second message based on formats of the respective messages; and
decode the second message to determine a course of action based on the air vehicle command; and
avionics, including a processor, to;
receive the course of action from the GPS receiver; and
execute the course of action.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air vehicle comprises a satellite receiver having messaging capability. The receiver is configured to process a command and control (C2) message when alternative communications are required. The air vehicle further comprises avionics for taking a course of action according to instructions in a C2 message received by the satellite receiver.
39 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An unmanned air vehicle comprising:
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a transponder to transmit a transponder code indicative of a communications failure on the unmanned air vehicle; a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to; receive, after the transponder code has been transmitted, a first message and a second message, the first message including satellite status information and the second message including an air vehicle command, the first message sent separately from the second message; distinguish the first message from the second message based on formats of the respective messages; and decode the second message to determine a course of action based on the air vehicle command; and avionics, including a processor, to; receive the course of action from the GPS receiver; and execute the course of action. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 18, 19, 20)
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10. An unmanned air vehicle comprising:
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a communications link to establish communications between the unmanned air vehicle and at least one of an airspace control administrator or an unmanned air vehicle operator; a transponder to transmit a first transponder code indicating a communications failure with the communications link; and a Global Positioning Receiver (GPS) receiver to receive, after the code has been transmitted, a command and control message to re-establish communication between the air vehicle and the at least one of the airspace control administrator or the unmanned air vehicle operator; and
a processor to instruct the unmanned air vehicle to execute a course of action based on the command and control message received by the GPS receiver. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An method for re-establishing communications between an unmanned air vehicle and an airspace administrator or an unmanned air vehicle operator, the method comprising:
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receiving a transponder code from the unmanned air vehicle indicating a communications failure on the unmanned air vehicle; formulating a command and control message that instructs the unmanned air vehicle to take a course of action; and transmitting the command and control message to a Global Positioning Receiver (GPS) receiver of the unmanned air vehicle via a GPS satellite to re-establish communications with the unmanned air vehicle; and
executing, via a processor, the course of action based on the command and control message transmitted to the GPS receiver. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification